Update: Daniel Craig “Can’t Wait” To Return For Bond 25

New Update: While on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Daniel Craig admitted he had been cagey about his return as James Bond in recent interviews, while promoting his new movie, Logan Lucky from Stephen Soderbergh. But he now seemed to confirm to Colbert that he will indeed return, at least for one more:

“I think this is it. I just want to go out on a high note. I can’t wait.”

The news comes via Variety, who also reported that Craig told Colbert he regrets what he said in an interview when SPECTRE was opening, that he’d rather “slash his wrists” than play Bond again:

“Instead of saying something with style and grace, I said something really stupid.”

The other news is that “White Boy Rick” helmer Yann Demange could be the man behind the camera, and that Warner Bros. could become the new studio distributing Bond 25 after Eon Productions’ deal with Sony ended. No word on if he’ll be in Bond 26, as we reported on the rumor below.

Old Update: Another day, another ‘Is Daniel Craig returning as James Bond or not” post. In this case, the actor says (via Magic 106.7 and Screen Rant):

“No decision has been made at the moment, there’s a lot of noise out there and nothing official has been confirmed and I’m not, like, holding out for more money or doing anything like that. It’s just all very personal decisions to be made at the moment… I know they’re desperate to get going and I would in theory love to do it, but there is no decision, uh, just yet.”

I guess Craig really does NOT want to slash his wrists playing 007 again? It does take a lot to make and market these films (it’s a long production process that hops around the globe, plus a VERY long international press tour), and he may just want to walk away. Hopefully we’ll know more soon and he’ll return.

By Danny F. Santos (doddleNEWS)

There are few films franchises with as long a history as the 007 James Bond series. Throughout its 50-plus year history, there have been six actors who have played the role, but it was Daniel Craig’s version that truly rebooted the series. So far he has starred in four films, and while a fifth has been announced, it hasn’t been confirmed if Craig will return.

Interestingly, though, the actor has effectively been confirmed for Bond 25 by Showtime President and CEO David Nevins. Craig was cast in the channel’s series Purity last year, but it seems that it may have been delayed. Here’s what Nevins said (via Slash Film):

“He’s doing Bond first. I can’t say anything about what I know or don’t know about Bond. That’s not my area.”

The idea that Craig is returning for Bond 25 has seemed pretty inevitable up until now, so it isn’t surprising. But a new rumor seems to indicate that not only will the actor return for Bond 25, but that he has also signed on for Bond 26. According to the British tabloid The Sun, the actor has signed on for a sixth film, and that it would be a remake of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Here’s what a source told the outlet:

“There was plenty of talk about who would be the next Bond but Barbara has managed to talk Daniel into two more films. He is loved by audiences around the world and has driven a real resurgence for the movies at the box office, so bosses knew they couldn’t lose him just yet.”

Meanwhile, the Express was able to ask George Lazenby what he thought of Craig remaking his solo outing as the British spy.

“Why not? [I] wonder if he will be allowed to shed a tear at the death of his wife. I had to do a take without, as Peter Hunt [On Her Majesty’s Secret Service director] said James Bond doesn’t cry.”

There’s a lot to unpack there. From the sound of it, it seems that the producers want to end Craig’s run on their own time, which is something I’ve been wanting for a while. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service would be an interesting choice to end it, since it was the only movie where Bond gets married — only to have his wife quickly killed off. Not only that, but Ernst Blofeld is the primary antagonist of the film.

Considering the current series’ more episodic nature, I have to wonder a few things… Could Léa Seydoux’s character Madeline Swann from SPECTRE return for Bond 25, and marry Bond in the remake of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service? She was left alive by the end of the last film and seen leaving with Bond so it would make some amount of sense. Bond 26 could also see the return of Christoph Waltz as Blofeld, who was given an origin story in SPECTRE.

This is all exciting… as long as the rumors turn out to be true. The source makes me highly suspicious, but I can’t help but be excited by the possibility. If the rumors track, then we’ll get a proper beginning, middle, and end to Craig’s James Bond.

Freelance writer, filmmaker, actor, musician, and visual artist. Writing online professionally for 4-plus years and has produced and performed in over a dozen films and webseries. He has also been everything from a social media consultant to managing a JUNO award winning musician.